really new, no - really

[robert-9]

Okay, let's say a person is REAL new to this. Doesn't know what VOB or BUO or IFO files are, or what DEMUX is or what the difference is between these files and M2V files are, and how to put all the stuff back tgether after you take it apart (is that authoring or reauthoring?)- so, for someone who knows almost nothing.

Is there somewhere one can go to get started? Some place on this site maybe? A DVDs for Dummies kind of file, or article or something?

Thanks

Robert the Newbie :)

[Guest]

This is it right here.

You will likely have a task you want to accomplish. So you make a posting asking how to accomplish that task.

[robert-9]

So I just learn as I need to learn something? No read this for a lot of tips on how to do everything?

Robert

[Guest]

It's always better to have an actual problem. There is all kinds of material for learning, you just have to do some searches.

[RunningSkittle]

robert-9 its hard to dump everything into a single "guide" but there is vast knowledge hidden away in the forums! i would start by reading the faq's and (somewhat outdated) guides on the main page.

http://www.doom9.org/glossary.htm
http://www.doom9.org/dvd-basics.htm

[robert-9]

thanks - One of my cousins has a Mac - he says can't open the MPG files I sent him. Is there some kind of conversion I need to do for him? What do I convert the files to and how?

Thanks

[CWR03]

Mpeg-1? Mpeg-2?

[robert-9]

I don't know, how can you tell?

Someone told me it shouldn't matter, he should be able to play it. He says he uses Real Player

[CWR03]

I don't know, how can you tell?
If you made the file yourself, you should know. If you didn't, use GSpot to find that information.

Someone told me it shouldn't matter, he should be able to play it. He says he uses Real Player
Someone is wrong. MPEG-1 will play on any computer. MPEG-2 requires a decoder installed.

[robert-9]

okay, thanks, will try Gspot

[robert-9]

Okay, I got Gspot - the file is MPG-2

Now what do I do? Encode it? How?

Thanks

[osgZach]

Tell the guy with the Mac he needs to find an MPEG-2 decoder (sometimes called codecs when distributed in encoder/decoder packs) that is compatible with his Mac's OSX version

He may need to look for a FREE one. Because in true Apple fashion, the MPEG-2 decoder for Quicktime costs money.

Edit:
In fact, tell him to try this

http://www.ffmpegx.com/

[CWR03]

Now what do I do? Encode it? How?
I can understand when it's hard to find an answer because it takes so long to wade through all the results you'll get with searching a few keywords, or when you don't even know what keywords to search, but you're not even trying. When you ask "Now what do I do?", what do you want to do? Do you want to be able to send it as-is, or do you want to make it as easy for the recipient as possible?

[robert-9]

Tell the guy with the Mac he needs to find an MPEG-2 decoder (sometimes called codecs when distributed in encoder/decoder packs) that is compatible with his Mac's OSX version

He may need to look for a FREE one. Because in true Apple fashion, the MPEG-2 decoder for Quicktime costs money.

Edit:
In fact, tell him to try this

http://www.ffmpegx.com/

okay, thanks - that makes sense. I think my cousin knows even less than i do though (scary, I know) so I may still have to convert the file on this end.

He claims - The formats that Mac supports are MPV, MP4, MP3 AND WMV - but aren't MP3 and MP4 just audio files?

[robert-9]

I can understand when it's hard to find an answer because it takes so long to wade through all the results you'll get with searching a few keywords, or when you don't even know what keywords to search, but you're not even trying. When you ask "Now what do I do?", what do you want to do? Do you want to be able to send it as-is, or do you want to make it as easy for the recipient as possible?

>>but you're not even trying

but I am trying - you don't see what goes on between messages here. I Googled "MPG to WMV" and got a bunch of hits, but I wasn't sure if any of them were any good. I was told, the experts are here, and to ask here and I would be helped. Some of the software suggestions I've gotten here have been great and have saved me a lot of time not having to try other things out there.

Still, I hit a brick walls with some things (remember I know almost nothing) so I have to come back here for the next step.
At first I just had DVDs and I needed to get them into a managable format - I did that, then I needed to cut them up and put them back together, I can do that now too. Now I need to find out how to convert formats and to add text. Then... who knows, I don't know what problems or challenges are around the next corner, but again, I was told the experts are here, why stumble around the internet looking for the answers when they are here?

[osgZach]

Doom9 has a rather interesting atmosphere, so try not to let it rub you the wrong way.

Some of us are very curt, while others are very patient, or just understanding. As long as you should you're trying most people will help you if they feel they can.

That being said. MP3 and MP4 are MPEG Audio files, yes. As for what format his Mac supports, that's a bunch of rubbish. Your computer (PC or make or whatever) can support any format you throw at it, as long as that format has a codec available and attainable by the public.

I suppose it bears asking.. What are you sending him, and why? What is he going to do with it?

[Blue_MiSfit]

Tell him to install VLC. It will play the MPEG-2 Program Stream (MPG extension) without issues.

/thread

[Keiyakusha]

MP3 and MP4 are MPEG Audio files, yes.
MP4 is not an audio file, its a container format for different media. It can or can not contain some audio.

[robert-9]

Doom9 has a rather interesting atmosphere, so try not to let it rub you the wrong way.

Some of us are very curt, while others are very patient, or just understanding. As long as you should you're trying most people will help you if they feel they can.

That being said. MP3 and MP4 are MPEG Audio files, yes. As for what format his Mac supports, that's a bunch of rubbish. Your computer (PC or make or whatever) can support any format you throw at it, as long as that format has a codec available and attainable by the public.

I suppose it bears asking.. What are you sending him, and why? What is he going to do with it?

I got a DVD from a cousin of old 8mm video of my parents and aunt and uncles weddings. My grandparents were in the videos. Some of my younger cousins have only seen pictures of our grandparents, while others knew them when they were VERY young. Most of them would like to see the video of their grandparents but don't necessarily want to see all of the wedding video. So I've learned how to cut up the DVDs into MPGs so I can send them the parts via email. A couple cousins wanted to see the entire wedding vids but not all the other stuff that was on the DVDs - So after cutting them up I learned how to put PARTS of them back together into DVD format so they can watch them on their TV - so far it's pretty cool, but like all new software, there is a learining curve. A lot of what I read here is like rocket science, or French - but some of it is starting to make sense.

Thanks for all the help

Robert

[robert-9]

Tell him to install VLC. It will play the MPEG-2 Program Stream (MPG extension) without issues.

/thread

I'll forward this to him but I get the feeling he's not very computer literate. He probably won't know what that is (I don't) or won't know how to do it.

Thanks though

Robert